Bondi stays on point with bath salts ban

It was refreshing this week to see Attorney General Pam Bondi making news tackling Florida crime, not just making another partisan television appearance. Bondi used her executive authority to ban 22 additional variations of the products commonly referred to as bath salts and synthetic marijuana. It's a stopgap measure to try to control these potentially lethal substances until more meaningful legislation can be passed by the Florida Legislature or Congress.

At least 20 people statewide have died of bath salt overdoses, while more than 6,000 emergency calls due to bath salt abuse were reported in 2011. In recent days, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office made 15 arrests for illegal synthetic drug sales. But law enforcement has been stymied in more aggressively enforcing the Federal Analog Act, which regulates controlled substances. Manufacturers confronted by a banned substance simply change the chemical formula slightly. It leaves law enforcement playing Whac-A-Mole.

Bondi spent much of the run-up to the November election on national politics, including opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Now that the election is over and the ACA has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, Bondi should remain focused on her day job, especially as she seeks another term in office.